In the 21st century, the tourism business is more popular than ever. The level of demand for the product formed by the tour operator is growing, the number of travelers (tourists) is increasing daily, and at the same time the market of tourist services is expanding. There are new tour operators that form a package of services for a traveling person, and travel agents involved in the sale of such products. Many people don't see the difference between a tour operator and a travel agent, but there is one. The travel agent works with a wide contingent, its goal is the buyer. The tour operator does not work directly, but cooperates with travel agents or other representatives of the tourism industry.
Differences between a travel agent and a tour operator
The above terms are determined by the form of activity of the subject. A tour operator, travel agent is an organization or a private entrepreneur engaged in some form of activity. In simple words, the tour operator is the one who forms the product and creates the offer. The travel agent is the one who sells the offers available from the tour operator to the client. In some cases, prescribed in the license for travel agency activities, the travel agent may be engaged in the formationlocal offers in your region and has the right to sell them. Such offers include sightseeing tours within the country or region of residence, weekend tours.
What do travel agents and tour operators have in common?
Tour operator and travel agent perform similar tasks, so it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between them. On the market there are tourist enterprises that act as both a tour operator and a travel agent at the same time. For example, a company is engaged in the development of routes and at the same time selling them to other tourism entities, while at the same time acquiring their products from other companies as a travel agent and selling them.
Features of a travel agent
A travel agent, like a tour operator, may have private, public or joint-stock ownership.
The main difference between a travel agent and a tour operator is the principle of conducting tourism activities. Only a licensed person/enterprise can act as a tour operator. It is not necessary to buy a license to open a travel agency that functions as a travel agent, especially if you work purely with domestic destinations.
The activity of a travel agent is determined by the sale of tourist and excursion tours or service packages, which means that a person who wants to travel may not choose a hotel, restaurant, types of leisure activities, but contact a travel agent who will offer affordable forms of recreation or service packages.
Travel agent is a tourist product distributor,sold as a complex service, in other words, an "inclusive tour" or a free set of services - a custom tour, formed based on the individual wishes of the client.
Functions of a travel agent
The main market function of the tourist travel organizer is to connect the supplier and the client-tourist. In such a chain, a travel agent is a connecting link, without which it is impossible to organize communication competently.
The choice of service provider is very important. There are often scammers in the tourism market. Buying one ticket, as a result, a novice tourist who does not know the intricacies of tourism may receive a product that does not match his order.
The travel agent regulates the selection of service providers based on professional knowledge of the tourism product market, leverage and features of the tourism business.
Characteristics of the activities of a travel agent
One of the main areas of work of a travel agent is the promotion of formed comprehensive packages of services developed by the tour operator.
The profit of a travel agent as a retailer is formed by a system of commissions for the sale of someone else's product, in this case formed by a travel agent. The latter has the opportunity to complete the tour chosen by the client with an additional service, such as a transfer. Sometimes progressive travel agents receive bonuses and incentives from the tour operator.
Interesting! A product sold by a travel agent is sold at a price set by the tour operator or other service provider.
Besides the sale, there are the following additional servicestravel agents:
- insurance;
- visa opening;
- transfer organization;
- search for the right hotel.
The tour operator always develops his product with a margin to be able to provide the service requested by the travel agent when the client expresses buying interest.
The concept of travel agent responsibility
There is such a thing as the responsibility of a travel agent. This means that he is responsible for the life and safety of his tourists, so any tour, even a one-day one, always includes insurance.
Today, more and more travelers prefer not to go to rest "savages", but to buy tours. It is not difficult to find travel agents, in every city there are at least a dozen travel agencies involved in the organization of recreation and leisure for tourists. This is especially true for settlements with a developed tourist infrastructure.
Remember that a travel agent is a person interested in your holiday. Therefore, the services of a travel agent are in demand, and such organizations, realizing this, are constantly developing discounts and promotions. Everyone must have heard of hot trips. By making its service closer to the client, the company representative hopes to attract new customers and increase his competitiveness, otherwise, how can his business exist?
